Knollig: A Terraneu Novel ( Book 2) Read online

  Running at full speed she took a swing at the leader, hitting him hard across the back of his head.

  “What…!” The other male gave a startled exclamation as Darst collapsed to the ground, he turned to see what was going on. Mairi swung again, and he got a face full of Terraneu wood. He went down next to his friend.

  Dropping the log Mairi didn’t waste time to see if the men were going to stay down. She found a sharp knife strapped to the leader’s thigh and quickly cut Amber loose.

  “Mairi, that was brilliant!” Amber rubbed her poor mouth.

  “Which way should we go?” Mairi asked, dancing on the spot. The adrenaline was coursing through her system, and she felt the need to run. She just couldn’t figure out which direction to go!

  “Let’s try this way.” Amber grabbed up the branch, “You keep the knife!” Then they tore off into the surrounding jungle.

  ~*~*~*

  Mairi had taken the lead with the knife, and was hacking and slashing at foliage that was in their way. She jumped at every sound. Even though she knew there had to be wildlife on Terraneu, she didn’t want to run into any of it.

  After coming across a clear spot, Mairi turned back to say, “Amber, I think we may have come this way. It looks like this path was cleared.” She then turned back to keep hacking bushes.

  “Uh. Mairi… don’t…move…!” Amber whispered.

  Now…when someone tells you not to move you have two choices. Close your eyes, and pray that whatever it is you are holding still for gets removed. Or you jump around like a crazy person, screaming and flailing. Mairi went with choice number two. She was instantly whirling around screaming, and spinning her arms like a windmill…”What? What is it?”

  Amber sighed, “Never mind. It flew off when you went into that spinning jump. I’m sure it wasn’t poisonous anyway.”

  “What? What wasn’t poisonous?” Mairi shrieked.

  “It was just a little spider…” she held up her hands to show about six inches. “Stop yelling…we don’t know who could be following us.” Amber hissed.

  “Oh…shit!” Mairi slapped her hand against her own mouth.

  It was too late! They both heard the rustling coming toward them. Was it their kidnappers? The blood stilled in Mairi’s chest! Knollig would not have a very good chance of finding them without the pets. So whoever or whatever was coming, it wasn’t a good thing!

  Looking at each other, they dove behind the nearest tree.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The members of the community were in a frenzy. The two females had been snatched right off the path of New Haven. Knollig had been in a Council meeting with his brothers and the others, froze in horror when the news was relayed to them.

  “How is that even possible? Cebat and Tabec would never let anyone get away with physically touching Amber?” Knollig asked incredulously.

  Knollig waited impatiently as Kniam had gone through the telepathic link, asking every male to search for the pets. They were the best hope in tracking the missing females. It came back to him that the Sacath were found just outside New Haven on the path out of town. The male best known for his healing ability with animals was rushed to Cebat and Tabec. His diagnosis was some type of poison, and he began to administer first aid. He kept muttering that it was a strong dose, and he wasn’t sure if he could help.

  Knollig spoke to the Sorrem stable master, “We need every Sorrem ready to leave. Get them here as fast as possible!” He knew they had enough trained Sorrem for the Council members, with extras that some men of the community could use. There was one man that he knew would not be left behind, “Fortem, I know you are a good friend to Mairi. If you want to come along in the search…”

  “I am already here.” Fortem’s voice rang with purpose.

  Kniam gave all the males duties to occupy them, and to keep them out of the way. Since it seemed to make poor Iesti nervous. Knollig was trying to reassure him that any effort he made was better than none. “Do your best, we know you will save them if you can.”

  Knollig paced one way around the animals, as Kniam paced the other. Knaleg just stood to the side, flexing and releasing his fists. Knollig thought his mind was going to snap from the worry. When there was a slight mewling from Cebat on the ground. Iesti made a happy chuckling sound. “We need some water, quickly!” He had spoken in mind as well as out loud, and before anyone could move there were males with water running from every direction.

  Knollig just watched as the Sacath drank water and shook off the effects of the poison. The poor female Sacath hadn’t responded to treatment, Iesti was shaking his head, “I can’t get her to come around.”

  They didn’t have time to wait for her. Kniam had come to the same conclusion. He bent down and gave Cebat a big hug and told him, “Cebat…Mommy! Find her.” Cebat crouched low to the ground on his belly, bumping against the female and putting his nose to hers. He whined trying to prod her into waking up. “Cebat…” Kniam tried again. “Now…find Mommy!” With a low whimper at the female lying prone on the ground, Cebat put his nose to the air, turned this way and that…then took off along the path.

  It was a good thing the Sorrems were ready and lined up, because in a cloud of dust they were chasing after Cebat.

  He led them into the forest, past the Oasis, and deeper still. When he suddenly stopped and crouched low growling softly. Knollig and the others all pulled up. Kniam reached out and felt the only mind that wasn’t part of their group nearby. He let his anger roll out, and with a cry of pain a man fell out of the trees a short distance away. Kniam instantly froze him in place so he couldn’t warn any others.

  Cebat pounced, his huge body pinning the man to the ground, his fangs a breath from ripping out his throat.

  “Cebat, hold.” Kniam stormed over and bent to look the man deep in the eyes. “I gave you a chance with banishment, however small it was. You threw that away when you kidnapped the females from New Haven. I will give you one chance to answer… where are they?”

  El’aru just laughed, “I won’t tell you anything. The death of that female disease you have let come to Terraneu will be my legacy.”

  Knollig couldn’t believe the insanity the banished were displaying. He couldn’t even imagine the terror his mate was going through if the others were like this one.

  “You are insane if you think we won’t find the females. We will just use Cebat to find them.” Then Kniam spoke in mind to all the males of the community, “This male is one of the banished, Cebat has led us to him, which means he has my mates scent on him. She is not with him, and has been handed off to who knows what fate along with Mairi. He refuses to answer any questions, and is acting insane in his rambling.”

  “We are to vote on your crimes and punishment.” Kniam straightened rage burning in his eyes. I am bound by honor to abstain from the vote due to personal reasons. What sentence does the Council proclaim?

  Knollig hated saying every word, but he had to. I am bound by honor to abstain from the vote due to personal reasons.

  Knaleg was next, I am close to both female victims, but my conscience is clear. I vote guilty of kidnapping and other offenses against one or more females. Also guilty in the poisoning of a domesticated creature with the intent to kill. Sentence is death, to be carried out immediately.

  Thain’s voice rang in mind, I vote guilty of kidnapping and other offenses against one or more females. Also guilty in the poisoning of a domesticated creature with the intent to kill. Sentence is death, to be carried out immediately.

  Ailech’s voice rang in mind, I vote guilty of kidnapping and other offenses against one or more females. Also guilty in the poisoning of a domesticated creature with the intent to kill. Sentence is death, to be carried out immediately.

  Asteen’s was last, I vote guilty of kidnapping and other offenses against one or more females. Also guilty in the poisoning of a domesticated creature with the intent to kill. Sentence is death, to be carried out immediately.

  It
is recorded that you El’aru are found guilty and death is to be your punishment, carried out immediately. Kniam’s voice rang in his head and Knollig felt no sympathy for the man on the ground. What kind of person would prey upon the little Earth females? The men who had kidnapped Amber and Mairi had to have some kind of defect to be able to do these deeds.

  Knollig waited for his brother, Kniam didn’t hesitate, “Cebat this one is yours!” the males all mounted their Sorrems. The mind freeze had been released, and Cebat made short work of ending El’aru.

  “Find Mommy, Cebat…go!” The Sacath made off into the forest again, with the males at his heels.

  A surprisingly short time later they slowed when Cebat did, dismounting from their Sorrems. The men made their way in the direction Cebat was leading. They all inched forward, carefully entering the clearing.

  There were two males in the makeshift camp but no Amber or Mairi. Knollig looked at the others and they all had the same confused expression. Kniam ordered Cebat to “stay” and then worked his way to the prone figures on the ground. Knollig and the other men followed.

  “What happened to that one, Darst wasn’t it?” Knollig asked. The male had been hit with something on the head, and he wasn’t moving anywhere anytime soon. He used his foot to flip the man over to his back. Ok, he needed to change that to never. The male was definitely dead. He raised a questioning eyebrow at Kniam. “What about that other one?”

  “Dead also. His face is smashed in.” Kniam growled in frustration, “Now I wish Cebat hadn’t gotten El’aru…”

  “Where are Amber and Mairi?” Knaleg asked from their side. “If they did this to the males, then they had to have run off…”

  All of the men regrouped in the middle of the clearing, they were getting ready to send Cebat out looking again. Suddenly they heard a female shriek.

  “That was Mairi…” Knollig was running in the direction he heard the sound, his brothers with him.

  Kniam yelled on the run, “Cebat, find your mommy!” As soon as he had given the word, the Sacath charged ahead of them.

  Thian shouted, “We will follow with the Sorrem!”

  ~*~*~*

  Mairi was terrified. There was a wild beast coming, she could hear it thrashing in the brush around them. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she was close to hyperventilating. She held tight to Amber’s hand, the knife in her other. If it came to it, she would use it to defend herself and her friend. Something large was snuffing the ground where she and Amber had just been standing. Then it moved around the tree. Mairi braced herself to strike with the knife…

  Amber let out a shocked gasp, “Cebat?!” Her voice came out in a whisper. She dropped down on the ground and wrapped her arms around her pet. Her body was shaking with relief. “Cebat…” She looked up, her eyes huge pools of blue-green…”Tabec…” her head swung this way and that…”Tabec…” she yelled louder.

  “Amber…?” Kniam had shouted her name.

  “Mairi…?” Knollig was yelling at the same time.

  They both ran from around the tree. Mairi saw Knollig and threw herself into his arms.

  “Mairi where are you hurt? I heard your scream…” Knollig held her out from him to examine her for damage. His jaw clenched when he saw that she had cuts on her face and mouth. A red handprint marred one pale cheek. Tears streaked through the dirt on her face to give evidence to her pain.

  “If those males were not already dead, I would kill them again!” Knollig ground out between gritted teeth.

  “I screamed because of a spider, not because I was hurt…” Mairi leaned into Knollig for his warmth. Now that the threat was over, she was feeling a bit shaky. “We had escaped and were trying to find our way out of the jungle. I hit those two men over the head with a log. It was the only way to stop them from tormenting Amber, and get us out of there.” Mairi explained.

  Then she realized that he had said if they weren’t “already dead.”

  “They were sentenced and punished then?” Mairi asked suddenly, her body shaking. “That is good to know! They were out of their minds, I don’t think any female would have been safe with them roaming the planet. Your cloning technique wasn’t flawless if it created those men.”

  Knollig looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face. “I am really not that bloodthirsty Knollig. I know how hard it must be to find someone guilty of something, then punish him or her accordingly. I am just glad I don’t have to do it. Even to someone like those males that kidnapped us.”

  Knollig just held Mairi close, “You are safe from them Mairi. They will never hurt you again.” Then he added for the males, Mairi doesn’t know that the males were dead when we got there and I don’t want her to find out. She thinks we punished them, and I wish it had been us. Let her have peace of mind.

  Mairi gasped and looked at him, “How did you find us so fast? We have been walking around forever?”

  Knollig just held her close, “The camp is only a few dozen feet away. You must have been going in circles. It was Cebat that led us to the camp, then to you and Amber in the jungle.”

  Mairi was beaming, “Cebat and Tabec are okay?” She was happy at the thought that the men had lied about harming the pets. She stilled when he had to shake his head.

  “Only Cebat, I’m sorry. Tabec didn’t respond to the treatment.” Knollig knew that Kniam was also explaining to Amber because her agonized cry sounded through the jungle.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “But I don’t understand why we can’t just clone Tabec! With your technology it would be easy!” Mairi was riding with Knollig back to camp.

  Knollig sighed and held Mairi closer, “It is not that simple. If we ‘clone’ Tabec it will just be a copy. Cebat will know the difference. The cloned Tabec would not have the same life experiences as the original.” Mairi opened her mouth to say something, and Knollig jumped in, “Yes Mairi, I am a clone. However, I am able to access some of the genetic memories of my predecessors. Tabec would not have that, we do not have her brain waves to use.” Knollig absently rubbed Mairi’s arms. “If something were to happen to me would you want a clone if it meant starting over? With someone without my memories or experiences to draw on?”

  Mairi sighed, she knew she wouldn’t ever fully understand the “cycles” they had gone through, and the cloning they had done. Would she want a “different” Knollig?

  “I guess not.” She sighed, “I just wish Amber didn’t have to lose Tabec.”

  “Death will come for all of us sweet Mairi, you know this better than anyone. Even if we could use the medical unit daily to fix every bit of damage done to us. We too shall face death when our cells deteriorate and can’t process the suns anymore.”

  Knollig kissed the top of her head, “Enough talk of death, we have hundreds of years before we face that. We should be looking to next month when the females will start arriving, and more males will be gaining mates!” He tried to tease her out of her solemn mood, “Maybe there will even be someone in that group for Fortem!”

  Mairi looked around at her friend riding next to them. She let her thoughts drift to Fortem and finding him a mate. When the first group of females came through, he had a good chance at gaining the attention of a few of them. He had taken all the classes her and Amber had given, he was always solicitous and charming. He was going to make someone a fine partner, and she would see to it that she sent as many women his way as she could.

  They were getting close to Terraneu now. She was recognizing the scenery as they passed. Suddenly a streak of fur raced past the Sorrem she was sitting on with Knollig.

  “Was that Cebat?” Mairi asked Knollig, she was a little worried that the animal had sensed danger.

  When Amber let out a startled cry and wiggled free of Kniam to land on the ground next to their Sorrem, Mairi turned to look where she was running to. Then it all became clear, it was Tabec! She was running in circles around Cebat. They were chasing each other’s tails, running around trees and p
ouncing on each other when they met again in the middle. Cebat was leaning over his front paws, then would pounce up at Tabec and “pretend” to bite her. Mairi knew that he wasn’t using teeth, or Tabec would be seriously hurt. Both of them froze at Amber’s cry and then all of them were rolling around in a pile while Amber cried over her “sweet babies”…her “gorgeous girl”!

  Mairi had to admit she had shed a few tears at the reunion.

  “There you see my sweet little Mairi.” Knollig held her closer still, “Now you don’t have to worry about Amber.”

  ~*~*~*

  Mairi was worried about Amber. Well she had to admit that they all were. It had been almost a month since the kidnapping. She and Amber were heading down to Antilles in the next few days. The preparations were all finalized. The women arriving from Earth would be taken to a recovery dome that was set up at the port pad.

  Kniam would do the welcome speech in the meeting dome. Then they would have an informal kind of walk around to get to know the newcomers to see if there were any women who would be a bad fit for Terraneu. If they found a woman that needed to be returned to Earth they would send them back, with their mind wiped as if nothing had happened. If the women were found to be accepting of the situation and eager for a new life. Then they would be sent on to Terraneu.

  It was when they arrived on Terraneu that they would have the medical clean up done. After they were changed they would not be able to return to Earth, so they couldn’t make any mistakes. All of the women arriving on Terraneu would be staying. With this in mind, they had arranged for the woman returning to Earth to think they were getting a physical. When they went into the medical tent it would instead wipe their memories, and sedate them for the return trip.

  To make matters more stressful they had to accomplish all of that in less than ten hours. Which is why she and Amber had been working on different scenarios, trying to imagine what could go wrong. Which was everything!